Single trigger mechanism



July 13, 1965 D. LINARELLO SINGLE TRIGGER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, I963 INVENTOR. Dam-Mao {Aw/9:240

July 13, 1965 Filed Dec. 27, 1963 D. LINARELLO 3,193,961

SINGLE TRIGGER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNE United States Patent 3,193,961 SINGLE TRIGGER MECHANISM Domenico Linarello, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Abel" cromhie dz Fitch Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 333,993 1 Claim. (Cl. 42-42) This invention relates to a mechanism for discharging firearms and more particularly to a single trigger mechanism for use with double barrel shotguns.

As those knowledgeable in the art are aware, the conventional single trigger mechanisms on double barrel shotguns are so made that when the trigger is pulled, the right barrel is first discharged. The trigger is then pulled again to discharge the left barrel. The design of these mechanisms is such that it is possible accidentally to fire the left barrel immediately after firing the right barrel. In the excitement of the hunt, the hunter may inadvertently and in rapid succession pull back on the trigger twice, causing an unwanted discharge. of course, disadvantageous from the standpoint of safety and it is wasteful of ammunition.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a single trigger mechanism fora double barrel gun which avoids the disadvantages enumerated above.

It is another object of the invention to provide a single trigger mechanism for a double barrel shotgun which makes it impossible to fire the second barrel until after the expiration of a predetermined period of time following the discharge of the first barrel.

A still further object is to provide an improved safety mechanism for a gun.

One of the features of the invention resides in the utilization of a part of the single trigger mechanism in such a manner that a protion thereof cooperates with and forms a part of the gun safety mechanism.

All of the objects, features and advantages of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a side view of a single trigger safety mechanism embodying the principles of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 4a shows the position of parts of the trigger mech- This is, i

anism before the mechanism is set or cooked for firing,

FIG. 4b illustrates the trigger mechanism in the cocked position before the trigger is squeezed,

FIG. 4c shows the position of the trigger mechanism selector lever as force is first exerted on the trigger to fire the right barrel,

FIG. 4d shows the position of parts after the right barrel has been fired and the trigger has been released back to the normal position,

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the position of the timing block immediately after firing, and

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating the position of parts when the safety mechanism is in the ON position.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a portion of a gun including a frame or housing 19 which serves as a base for the mechanisms to be described herein. The trigger mechanism includes a right sear bar 12 and a' left sear bar 14. These bars are mounted for pivotal movement on a pin 16 when actuated by the trigger, as will be seen; The free endsof these bars are urged in a downward direction by suitable springs, not shown, of conventional construction. The

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trigger mechanism includes a trigger bar 13 from which the trigger 20 extends in a downward direction. The trigger bar 18 is located in a cutout in a base member 19 and is mounted. at its front end for pivotal movement about a pin 22. This trigger bar 13 is urged downwardly by a trigger return spring, not shown, of conventional construction. The back end of the trigger bar 18 is provided with a generally upstanding tail 24, the purpose of which will be later described.

t a point toward the rear of the trigger bar 18 there is provided an opening in the form of a slot 26. In this slot 26 there is mounted a selector lever 28. This lever 28 comprises a head 34) and opposed arms 32 and 34 extending in a sidewise direction. The head 30 cooperates with a curved output portion 36 on the right sear bar 12, as will be more fully appreciated as the description progresses. The selector lever 28 is mounted for sidewise pivotal movement about a pin 38 which is mounted in the trigger bar 18 in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof. In the front surface of the head 30 there is provided a recess 40 for receiving one end 41 of a spring wire 4-2. The other end 43 of the spring wire 42 is held in a suitable bore 39 in the trigger bar 18. Intermediate the ends of the spring wire 42 there is provided a guide 44 for exerting a force on the end 41 of this spring wire in a direction to the right in FIG. 3. This causes a force to be exerted on the head 36 of the selector lever 28, urging it to the right in FIG. 3.

A timing block 45 is provided adiacent the rear extremity of the trigger bar 18 and is adapted to be pivotally rotated about a pin 46 on which it is mounted. The timing block 45 is provided with an arcuate surface 47 which terminates on a safety lip 48 which cooperates with the end 59 of the tail 24 on the trigger bar 18 as will be seen. The timing block 45 is normally maintained in the position shown in FIG. 1 by means of a spring 51. This springis selected to exert a predetermined amount of force on the timing block 45 for a purpose to be more fully explained below.

The timing block 45 which comprises a part of the trigger mechanism described above also comprises a part of the safety mechanism.

The safety mechanism includes a safety bar 52 pivotally mounted on a pair of upstanding supports 53 by means of a screw pin 54. The lower end 56 of the safety bar 52 is adapted to engage a notch 57 in one end 58 of the timing block .5. The upper end 60 of the safety bar 52 is en gaged between two downwardly extending protrusions 62 and 63 on the underside of a safety button 64 which is adapted to be manually slid back and forth to assume backward and forward positions respectively. In the forward or safety OFF position, the safety bar 52 is substantially vertical, which allows the spring 51 to maintain the timing block 45 in the position shown in FIG. 1. However, when the safety button 64 is moved to the rear or safety ON position, the lower end 55 of the safety bar 52 is urged against the notch 57 in the end 58 of the timing block 45, causing the timing block to assume the position shown in FIG. 6. In this position it will be seen that the lip 48 of the timing block 45 extends over the end 50 on the tail 24 of the trigger bar 18, preventing actuation of the trigger so that neither barrel can be fired. The safety button 64 is maintained in either the OFF or the ON position against accidental movement to the alternate position by means of a stationary spring 66 cooperating with a pin 68 on the button 64.

FIG. 4a shows the sear bars 12 and 14 in their positions before the tripper mechanism is cocked for firing. FIG. 4b shows the mechanism cocked for firing both barrels, from which it will be seen that both sear bars 12 and 14 are 59 has not yet been depressed by the finger. Accordingly, the selector 23 is made to assume the position shown in FIG. 412 by the downward pressure of the trigger return spring, not shown, which forces the arms 32 and 34 of the selector lever 23 into contact with the upper surface 70 of the base member 19.

In FIG. 40 the mechanism is in a position resulting from slight pressure exerted on the trigger 20 which is sufficient to raise the selector lever 28 into the position shown. When the selector lever 28 is raised from the position shown in FIG. 4b to that of FIG. 40, it is not raised in a true vertical manner. Instead, as the trigger bar 13 is raised about its pivot pin 22, the end 41 of the spring wire 42 urges it to the right in FIG. 40 so that it pivots about the pin 38 to the position shown. In this position, the top of the head 39 engages the cutout portion 36 in the right sear bar 12. As further pressure is applied to the trigger 2%) the right sear bar 12 is forced upwardly about its pivot pin 16, causing release of the right barrel firing pin in a well known manner. The position of the right sear bar 12 at this time is shown in phantom by the dashed lines in FIG. 40. When the trigger 26 is released after the right barrel is fired, the return spring (not shown) associated with the right sear bar 12 forces the selector lever 28 downward. As this selector lever 28 descends, the arm 32 engages the upper surface '76 of the base member 19. Further downward force by the right sear bar 12 on the head 30 causes the lever 28 to pivot about its mounting pin 38, causing it to snap into the position shown in FIG. 4d, when finger pressure on the trigger 20 is completely released.

Referring further to FIG. 4d, when it is desired to fire the left barrel, pressure is applied to the trigger 29, causing the selector lever 28 to engage the point '72 on the under surface of the left sear bar 14. Continued application of pressure to the trigger Ztl will raise the left sear bar 14 to the position shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 4a, causing firing of the left barrel. Full release of the trigger 2% will then allow the left sear bar 14 to return to the uncocked position. The position of this left sear bar 1d and the other elements of the trigger assembly just discussed are shown in the uncooked position in FIG. 4a as they would appear after firing both barrels, with no finger pressure applied to the trigger.

As is evident from the discussion above, one of the principal advantages of the apparatus described herein is the provision of inhibiting means for preventing accidental firing of the left barrel immediately following firing of the right barrel. This is achieved by means of the timing block 35 in cooperation with a portion of the trigger bar 18. Accordingly, returning now to the point in the operation just as the right barrel is fired, the gun will of course recoil. This recoil action produces a quick movement of the gun in the direction opposite to the projection of the charge fired. This causes the timing block 4-5 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction about its mounting pin 46. The position of the timing block immediately after recoil is shown in FIG. 5. From this figure it will be seen that the timing block 4-5 underlies the tail portion 24 on the trigger assembly bar 18. This prevents the trigger bar 18 from returning to a position low enough to allow the head 30 of the selector lever 23 to snap into the position shown in FIG. 4d for firing the left barrel. The timing block will remain in the position shown in FIG. 5 until the trigger 2%) is depressed long enough to allow the timing block spring 51 to return the timing block 45 to its normal position. The spring 51 must, of course, be chosen to allow the timing block 45 to move to the forward postion shown in FIG. 5 due to the recoil action of the gun. However, it should also be capable of exerting sufficient force to return the timing block 45 to the position shown in FIG. 1 in a brief period of time, such as for example approximately 100 milliseconds. It will be appreciated that the action just dc scribed prevents inadvertent firing of the second barrel by reason of successive rapid pulling of the trigger due to anxiety or preoccupation of the hunter with the game under fire.

Part of the improved trigger mechanism of this invention also comprises part of the safety mechanism. This is shown in FIG. 6 in which the safety is shown in the ON position. In this position it will be seen that the lower end 56 of the safety bar 52 moves and holds the timing block 45 to the forward position shown in FIG. 6, so that the lip 48 overlies the end St) of the trigger bar tail 2d. The timing block 45 occupies the position shown in FIG. 6 so long as the safety button 64 is in the rear or ON position shown. When the safety button 64 is moved to the forward or OFF position, the spring 51 will be allowed to urge the timing block 4-5 into the position shown in FIG. 1, so that the trigger mechanism can then be actuated to fire the gun.

It will be appreciated that the improved mechanism of the invention produces a number of important advantages. Among these is the fact that the recoil actuated time delay feature which prevents accidental firing of the second barrel immediately after firing of the first barrel provides a margin of safety not realized by conventional trigger mechanisms. Furthermore, since the second barrel is not inadvertently fired, it stands ready to be discharged a short period of time after the first barrel is fired when it would be otherwise impossible to reload in time to fire at a given target. Of course, there is an additional economical advantage in not firing shots accidentally.

A still further advantage of the invention resides in the use of an already existing part for a dual purpose. Thus the timing block 45 serves not only to prevent accidental firing as described above, but also is utilized as a part of the safety mechanism.

While the foregoing description sets forth the principles of the invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be understood that the description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of the invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

In a double barrel gun, a single trigger mechanism comprising first and second sear bars,

a trigger bar pivotally mounted at one end of a base member and having a trigger thereon for actuating said mechanism, said trigger bar having an extension on the free end thereof,

a selector lever carried on said trigger bar for cooperating with one of said sear bars when said trigger is actuated a first time to fire one of said barrels,

means for urging said selector lever into a position to cooperate with the other of said sear bar-s when said trigger is released after firing said one barrel to enable firing the other of said barrels when said trigger is later actuated,

a movable member located adjacent said extension on the free end of said trigger bar for cooperation therewith, said movable member having an arcuate top surface opposite the point of pivotal support thereof, said movable member being pivotally mounted on an axis, said axis having a fixed relationship with respect to said base member, a lip on said movable member extending generally beyond the front portion thereof, said lip having a surface which comprises a portion of said arcuate surface,

a spring for maintaining said movable member in a normal position,

said movable member being actuated against the force of said spring by the recoil action from the firing of said one barrel to a position where said lip engages the underside of said extension, to thereby prevent accidental firing of said other barrel immediately after the firing of said one barrel,

3,198,961 5 6 and a safety mechanism, said mechanism including said References Cited by the Examiner movable member, said spring, manual actuating UNITED STATES PATENTS means and a mechanical link between said movable member and said actuating means, 891401 6/08 Brush 42.42 said movable member being in said normal position 5 1109632 9/14 Kqutzlw when said actuating means is in the OFF position, and 1725663 8/29 Miner 42 42 said movable member being moved against the force FOREIGN PATENTS of said spring into a position where said lip overlies 1,084,791 1/55 France.

said extension on said trigger bar when said actuating means is moved to the ON position, to thereby 1O BENJAMIN BORCHELT: Prlmary Exammerprevent firing of said barrels. FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Examiner. 

